Interlocking container

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nest stackable and interlocking container. The nest stackable and interlocking container comprises a base plate, four side walls, and an upper peripheral edge integrally formed on the side walls, wherein at least one bow is pivotably held in the edges. The bow protrudes into the open interior of the container in an extended position and is received in the edges in a retracted position. The bow comprises two elbow-shaped end areas, which are respectively guided in a semi-circular groove arranged in the side walls of the container. Latching positions are provided in the groove so that the bow may be latched in various positions.

[0001] The invention relates to a nest stackable container according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Nest stackable containers are containers which are mutually interlocked in the empty state in order to enable easier transport of the same. The containers have a rectangular cross section and the side walls are provided with a slightly conical arrangement towards the floor, so that as second similar container can be placed in the rectangular opening of the container. To ensure that such nest stackable containers can also be stacked in the filled state there are various proposals, with a pivotably held supporting strut limiting the rectangular opening of the container, so that the floor of a similar container can stand on the supporting struts.

[0003] From EP-A-O 697 341 a nest stackable container is known for example in which U-like supporting struts are provided on the opposite shorter side walls, which struts can be brought into three different positions (FIG. 3). The supporting strut has a pivot bearing which is arranged in the edge region at a distance from the face wall and can thus be pivoted between a position projecting into the opening of the container and a position releasing the opening. Moreover, the supporting strut can be swiveled via the released position (when resting on the side wall) downwardly to a stop, so that a second similar container can be stacked in the first container. The ends of the supporting struts are loosely guided in an opening guide means and therefore fallout of the container when the same is turned around. In order to bring the supporting struts into the lower position, the ends need to be pushed inwardly so that they can be brought out via a connecting link. The latching of the supporting strut in the two upper positions is also not ensured.

[0004] The present invention is now based on the object of providing a nest stackable container in which the supporting struts or bows are guided in an improved manner, so that they cannot fallout of the container and the bow can be latched in any position. This object is achieved by a nest stackable container with the features of claim 1.

[0005] The invention comes with the major advantage that the pivotable bow is always held in a guide means and can be latched in the various positions. The bow of the container in accordance with the invention can also be brought to the various positions in an especially easy way.

[0006] Further advantages of the invention following from the dependent claims and from the description below, in which the invention is explained in closer detail by reference to an embodiment illustrated in the schematic drawings, wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 shows two similar containers which are stacked on top of each other with the two bows in the lower position;

[0008]FIG. 2 shows the two nest stackable containers with the bows in the position releasing the opening;

[0009]FIG. 3 shows the two nest stackable containers with the bows in the upper position;

[0010]FIG. 4 shows a lower view of the two nest stackable containers in the lower position according to FIG. 1.

[0011] The same reference numerals have been used in the figures for the same elements and first-time explanations relate to all figures, unless stated expressly otherwise.

[0012]FIG. 1 shows two identical cuboid nest stackable containers 1 and 1′ in a perspective, partly sectional view, which containers each comprise a base plate 2, two longer side walls 3 and two shorter side walls 4. The side walls 3 and 4 are provided with a slightly conical arrangement towards the floor 2. In an outwardly projecting edge 6, two bows 7 are held in a pivotable way in a semi-circular groove 8 in the wall 9 of the side walls 3. The groove is delimited by a projecting semi-circular tab 10 which stands at a right angle to the shorter side wall 4. The bows 7 comprise a knee element 11 and an outwardly bent end 12 which is held in a T-like opening 13 in the edge 6. A longitudinal groove 14 each is provided on the inside of the container 1 below on the edge 6 on the shorter side walls 4, so that the bows 7 can be sunk (see FIG. 2). The rectangular base plate 2 further comprises shorter sides than the external dimensions of the upper free opening 15 of the container 1′ so that a second identical container 1 can be placed in the container 1. In the position A as shown in FIG. 1, a small round cavity 16 is provided in the groove 8, so that the bows 7 are latched there and project into the free opening 15 of the container 1 in such a way that the container 1′ can be interlocked in a middle position in the lower container 1. In this position A the container can be filled approximately half with goods or merchandise. Furthermore, reinforced oblong and especially rectangular openings 17 are provided as handles in the edge 6 on the shorter side walls 4, as a result of which the container 1 can be grasped and lifted with ease.

[0013]FIG. 2 shows the same nest stackable container 1 and 1′ with the two bows 7 in the position B for releasing the opening. The bow 7 is latched on both sides in a further small round recess 18 at the end of the groove 8 and lies more or less flush relative to the lower edge of the openings 17, so that said openings 17 are covered only slightly by the bow 7. On the other hand, the bow 7 can be pressed through the openings 17 from the position B to position A (FIG. 1). With the two bows 7 in position B, the container 1 can be interlocked completely in container 1, i.e. the edge 6 of the container 1′ lies on the edge 6. The bows 7 lie in the longitudinal grooves 14, so that they are flush with the inner wall of the container 1. FIG. 3 shows the two nest stackable containers 1 and 1′ with the two bows 7 in the higher position C, with the knee elements 11 being latched in a connecting link 19 of the tab 10. FIG. 4 shows the position A as in FIG. 1 in a bottom view. The ribbed lower side 20 can be seen with the longitudinal grooves 21 on both sides which are used for receiving the bow 7.

[0014] The bow 7 is thus guided in a pivotable way in a semi-circle formed by groove 8 from the position A for stacking in a middle height (FIG. 1) to the position B on the one hand for nest stacking (FIG. 2) and to position C for normal stacking on the other hand (FIG. 3). The small recesses 16, 18 and the connecting link 19 are used together with the T-like opening 13 in the edge 6 for the purpose of latching the bow 7 on the knee element 11. The required play in order to bring the bow 7 from the respective latching position is released by the T-like opening 13, i.e. by lifting the bow 7 the bent end 12 is pushed to another corner of the T-like opening 13, as a result of which the bow 7 comes to lie in the groove 8. On the other hand, when the bow 7 is not completely latched in the position B, the same is pressed during nest stacking by a similar container 1′ automatically into latching position B. In all positions A, B and C the rectangular openings or handles 17 are for the most part left free by bow 7.

[0015] As is shown in the figures, a label holder 22 is provided in the shorter side walls 4 at approximately half the height, which label holder comes to lie in the interlocked position (FIG. 2) at the same height as the rectangular opening 17 of the lower container 1 and is thus still readable. In the other positions C (FIG. 3) and A (FIG. 1) the label holder 22 of the upper container 1′ is not covered by the lower container 1.

[0016] It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that even a single bow 7 on one side of the container 1 would be sufficient, whereby the opposite side needs to be provided with a steeper side wall 4 and a projecting inner edge. 

claims 1-7 (cancelled)
 8. A nest stackable and interlocking container, comprising: (a) a base plate; (b) four vertical side walls connected to the base plate to form an open interior; (c) an upper peripheral edge integrally formed on the side walls; (d) at least two semi-circular grooves, each groove being provided on an opposing side wall; and (e) at least one bow pivotably held in the peripheral edge and protruding into the interior of the container in an extended position and being received in the peripheral edge in a retracted position, wherein the at least one bow comprises two elbow-shaped end areas, each end area being guided in one of the at least two semi-circular grooves, and wherein latching positions are provided in each of the at least two semi-circular grooves whereby the at least one bow may be latched in various positions.
 9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the bow is guided in the semi-circular groove from a first position, wherein a second container may be stacked in the container at a first height, to a second position wherein the second container may be stacked at a second, middle, height, to a third position wherein the second container may be interlocked completely.
 10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the edge comprises at least one longitudinal groove in which the at least one bow is received in the third position.
 11. The container according to claim 8, wherein the bow end areas have an outwardly bent configuration, and are held in T-shaped openings provided in the edge.
 12. The container according to claim 8, wherein the container comprises two bows provided on opposite sides of the container.
 13. The container according to claim 8, wherein the container further comprises at least two oblong openings on the opposite side walls which may be used as handles.
 14. The container according to claim 13, wherein the container further comprises a label holder positioned approximately half way up one of the side walls, whereby, when a second container is completely interlocked in the container, the label holder is at approximately the same height as one of the at least two oblong openings. 